Female accountants 'feel equal to male counterparts'

Female accountants questioned in a new survey believe that the profession offers the same opportunities for women as it does for men.

A poll of over 100 female accountants by Elements has discovered that 68% said they felt they had the same career opportunities as men in the profession.

This new survey follows a commitment by Big Four firm KPMG to develop talented women accountants by giving a female-friendly focus to its latest recruitment drive.

Paul Bibby, Chief Executive of Elements, commented that talent is the most important quality of any candidate.

'We have found that clients are much more concerned about recruiting the best talent - in my experience, the issue of gender just doesn't arise.'

One respondent described the atmosphere of accounting workplaces as being competitive, saying: 'This is a very well-rewarded and consequently a very competitive profession. If you're not prepared to make sacrifices, you can't expect to reap the benefits.'

Many of the respondents also remarked that a good work/life balance is now just as important for men as it is for women.